DESCRITTIVE NOTES OF QUARRY DISTRICTS AND QUARRIES 27 1 



and not even our best granites, are as strong to resist trans- 

 verse pressure or strain. Tests (comparative) show that it 

 is fully three times as strong, in this way of resistance, as 

 granite, marble, Ohio sandstone and Connecticut and New 

 Jersey brownstones. To resist compression it is not much 

 superior to these sandstones, and not equal to the best 

 granites. And its strength against transverse strains fits it 

 for lintels, sills, caps, and water-tables especially." 



Oxford, Chenango County. — The F. G. Clark Bluestone 

 Company, successor of F. G. Clark & Son, has the large 

 quarry on the north-west of the village, and in the hillside 

 west of the Chenango river. 



The strata are horizontal, and thin at the top ; below, the 

 thick bedded ** liver rock " is found, from which blocks of 

 large size are cut. The stone is blue, fine-grained and 

 homogeneous in texture. Its specific gravity is 2.711, and 

 its weight per cubic foot 168.9 pounds. The absorbed water 

 was found to be 1. 1 1 per cent. It was not materially affected 

 by the freezing and thawing tests. At a high temperature 

 — 1200^-1400^ F., the color was changed to dull red, and 

 the stone was checked badly. 



A partial analysis showed the presence of 3.46 per cent 

 and 0.16 per cent of ferrous acid and ferric acid respectively. 

 A crushing test of the strength of this stone, made In 1884, 

 showed a resistance of 13,472 pounds to the square Inch. 



Architects and builders object to this stone in common 

 with other blue-stone, for work in which there is much 

 carving and fine tooling, on account of its hardness and the 

 greater expense Involved In working it, as compared with 

 softer sandstones and limestones. 



The plant Includes a planer, rubbing-bed and three gangs 

 of saws, driven by steam power, besides quarrying machin- 

 ery proper. 



The principal use Is for house trimmings and large plat- 

 forms and steps. During the quarrying season one hundred 

 and fifty men are employed, and In 1889 one thousand four 

 II 



